A brief flash of green light that can appear at the upper edge of the sun for a second or two just as it rises or sets, caused by the atmosphere acting as a weak prism that separates sunlight's colors so that green light, bending slightly more than red, is the last visible sliver as the sun dips below a clear, unobstructed horizon. It is most reliably seen over an open ocean horizon in very clear, stable air, and its rarity has made it a well-known subject of maritime folklore.
Facts
Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceGreen flashes are not always green, they can also be yellow, blue or violet, though green is the color seen most often 1 Sources
1. Explaining Green Flashes, Andrew T. Young, San Diego State University
IntroductionQuote, Introduction
Colors of green flashes Green flashes are not always green; they can be yellow, green, blue, or even violet - see the color examples . But green is the hue seen most often.
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